Andrew Stevenson

JULIA GILLARD and Peter Garrett have long trumpeted the Gonski report as a once-in-a-generation review of school funding. The worry now is that it might take another generation before students, parents and teachers see the far-reaching changes it proposes.

Yesterday the Prime Minister and Education Minister promised their sleeves were already rolled up - at the same time as they rolled out a comprehensive national conversation on school funding.

That's the conversation following the one that's been had for the past 18 months during the review's work, one that induced 7000 submissions. And it continues alongside a parallel conversation between the federal and state governments over - among other things - where the $5.6 billion immediately needed to improve schooling might be hiding.

Honestly, what is there left to be said? To be fair, David Gonski's panel has cited several areas where better modelling is needed but he told the federal government that at least as long ago as December when he submitted his report. To date, nothing appears to have been done.

The next four-year cycle of funding starts in 2014, with existing arrangements having already been extended by a year. Independent schools are predicting another year-long extension of the broken model before the changes can come in.

But, apart from time, the changes will require money.

There is broad consensus children from disadvantaged backgrounds - who start kindergarten already well behind their peers - require more funding. There were always only two possible ways to solve that. Find more money for education budgets or redistribute the dollars governments already pump out.

In its riding instructions the Gonski panel was told no school could lose a dollar, immediately ruling out any change in the mix.

Yesterday the federal government doused expectations the money Gonski says is needed would flow any time soon, noting that in some areas ''the scope of the proposed new funding contributions'' may be too large.

No change to the mix and no more money in the kitty adds up to one thing: no change in our failing schools.

21 Feb
FOR the headmaster of Newington College, David Mulford, the main recommendation he hopes will survive the rough and tumble of the political process is the new proposal on funding students with disabilities.

21 Feb
THE principal of Chifley College Bidwill campus, Mark Burnard, is pleased the Gonski review highlights the need to address inequity and disadvantage in education, but thinks ''the devil is in the detail''.

21 Feb
FEDERAL government funding for every student regardless of the income of their parents or the wealth of their school is now part of a ''citizenship entitlement'', with the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, yesterday in effect declaring it part of a new Australian compact.